Bohan Phoenix — Bridging the Gap Between East and West, Hip-Hop in China

An episode of MAEKAN

MAEKAN is a publisher and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about creative accountability, participation, and culture within a broader global community. MAEKAN's focused on equipping creators with the tangible and intangible tools to succeed and define the future of creative culture.

We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

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Comfort. It’s something essential to our lives.
The degree of comfort we experience can impact how we view the world around us. Comfort can take shape in a practical sense. Are we dry? Are we able to move freely? Are we confident about how we look?
Comfort can also apply psychologically. Are we comfortable with the challenge ahead and the uncertainty of not knowing what’s next?
Interview & Photos by Eugene Kan
Video by Ralph Sarmo
See the full story here: https://maekan.com/article/maekan-byborre-redefining-comfort-celine-pham/
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
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If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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502 Bad Gateway is the best life decision Seth Footring has made in recent years. By day, Seth works in the photo and eCommerce department of ASOS in London, by night—and in all other spare waking hours—he focuses his efforts on being the creator and Editor-in-Chief of a brand new men’s fashion publication. The first issue of 502 Bad Gateway was released in January this year and contains long articles about Tender, Olubiyi Thomas, the Massimo Osti Archive, and Sampaix Studio, plus graphic elements that are decidedly in the opposite direction of the average glossy fashion mags. After making the decision to start and complete a personally driven project, Seth’s choices revolved around bringing to life the type of publication he wanted to read and indicating that there is a “right” way to operate in the fashion industry that isn’t talked about sufficiently. Charis Poon spoke with Seth in London about the necessity for 502 Bad Gateway’s existence and the trials he underwent to make it happen.
Hosted by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Sebastian Petrovski
Design of 502 Bad Gateway by Xuan Phan
See the full story here: https://maekan.com/article/502-bad-gateway-an-antidote-to-online-fast-fashion/
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
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If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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The value of an object is different for everyone. If you’re practical above all else, an object’s function, efficiency, and affordability are probably the most important aspects. If you’re drawn to beautiful things, the way an object looks and fits within an environment are more appealing. If you’re curious how the puzzle pieces of geography, politics, and history fit together, you might find an object’s inspiration, fabrication, and evolution of the most interest. Someone who is a combination of all of the above plus interested in telling the stories of objects to better enable society is Johanna Agerman Ross.
Hosted, Narrated, & Text by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Chris Tang
See the full story here: https://maekan.com/article/understanding-our-world-through-objects-johanna-agerman-ross/
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Gone before its time, XXX (known popularly as “Triple X”) was a club not far from the MAEKAN Office that was a hotspot for underground culture and music on Hong Kong’s Kowloon side. The venue of choice for acts like OKOKOK, Yeti Out and Eric Lau, among many others, it closed in late 2018 amid a background of public noise complaints, sky high rents and lack of official support from the city. When street culture meccas like this one go down, it deals a serious blow to the independent community, especially one eking out an existence in a decidedly creatively inhospitable city like Hong Kong.
Audio by Elphick Wo
See the full story here: https://maekan.com/article/remembering-triple-x-hong-kongs-underground-hot-spot/
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Comfort. It’s something essential to our lives.
The degree of comfort we experience can impact how we view the world around us. Comfort can take shape in a practical sense. Are we dry? Are we able to move freely? Are we confident about how we look?
Comfort can also apply psychologically. Are we comfortable with the challenge ahead and the uncertainty of not knowing what’s next?
In abundance, some would say too much of it creates complacency. Too little of it, and you’re unable to settle into a rhythm, because you’re only focused on reducing the discomfort.
Interview & Photos by Eugene Kan
Video by Ralph Sarmo
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/maekan-byborre-redefining-comfort-rebecca-kelley
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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“Looking back at it, it feels like I’m jumping around a lot, but all of the different types of work, whether it’s an installation or in the architecture studio that I have, they’re all in service of the same goal—which is to take our everyday experience, things that we know, and, sort of, make them do things or make them act in ways we don’t expect. And that subtle shift outside of our everyday experience is a kind of invitation to explore that region outside of our everyday.”
A rack of sixteen Spalding basketballs—except they’re made of pink selenite crystal with gaping erosions in their forms. A Los Angeles Lakers bomber jacket with logo stitching across the front—except it’s unwearable, made of pyrite and ash, the crystals emerging from erosions on the shoulder and sides. What appears to be the hydrostone likenesses of Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, and Big Bird hanging out together, but they’re wrapped in cloth and tied with rope, ready for delivery or perhaps for unwrapping—immediately familiar and uncomfortably unfamiliar at the same time. Issues of National Geographic, Vogue, Life Magazine, and Sports Illustrated from the year 3018—the year that, apparently, the Cleveland Browns win the Super Bowl.
Story & Photos by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/floating-in-time-daniel-arsham-brings-us-static-mythologies
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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The growth of social media gives off the perception that the world’s smaller and more connected, but conversely, this doesn’t necessarily make the world easier to understand. In our MAEKAN Session titled The Need for Criticism, we focused on the concept of critique in a social-media dominated creative landscape.
This session was our most globally expansive to date, with a panel dialing in from Australia, Asia, and America. The panel members originally met through a WhatsApp group centered around film photography. Through this connection, the speakers often spoke about critique and how that has changed in relation to a social media-driven environment. How does critique affect the creative landscape of 2018, and how can we grow more accustomed to the ways in which we receive critique?
Text by Alek Rose
Moderated by Eugene Kan
Panelists featuring Sean Marc Lee, Young Kim, Jovell Rennie, James Bailey, and Donnel Barroso
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/maekan-session-the-need-for-criticism
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Studies suggest that mental illness just may be the new normal—with an overwhelming amount of the population suffering from depression, anxiety, or a deep rooted sadness at one point or another in their lives. While some may attempt to ignore symptoms, it’s important we don’t isolate ourselves and these feelings, but rather, remove the stigma attached to mental health by speaking openly. Mike Shinoda wants to promote this narrative, and ensure that we are checking in with ourselves, and others.
Interview, Narration, and Text by Samantha Goretski
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Christina Choi
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/to-be-a-member-of-a-club-you-never-wanted-to-join-conversing-with-mike-shinoda
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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In this Building the Brand, Eugene sits down with Scott to talk about the role of community governance in a brand strategy. It's never been easier to start and build a brand today, but a side effect of this is building loyalty has become that much harder. Instead of freely providing what the brand has to offer up front—or even simply dictating it to your audience—how about building a community that has some say in how things are run?
Hosted by Eugene Kan & Scott Mascek
Text & Transcript by Nate Kan
Audio by Elphick Wo
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/building-the-brand-community-governance
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Joan Wong worked at Penguin Random House in New York for the past five years as a book cover designer. Her more well-known work includes the paperback covers of the Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan, Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists. She could easily have stayed at her job indefinitely and followed a fairly predictable path of success as a designer.
However, in evaluating her next steps, this plan sounded a little too safe. She decided to leave her full time job in order to embark on a year long trip around the world that began in October 2017.
This second conversation between myself, Charis, and Joan took place near the end of her trip, but looks back at the second third of her journey.
Hosted & Narration by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Illustration by Joan Wong
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/observations-abroad-with-joan-wong-part-ii
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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I have a trick for when I meet new people in order to get more quickly into a substantiative conversation. I resist, for the entire meeting if possible, asking the person that I’ve just met what they do for a living. I’m not always able to swerve clear of what’s considered small talk—I still tend to talk about the weather more than is advisable—but I try to be honest and ask open questions that leave room for the conversation to develop in many possible ways. The artist David Choe, in his 45-minute session on stage at the Unexpected Connections conference, said that he would begin by telling the 450 people in the audience the thing he least wanted to share. Think what our interactions with each other would look like if we adopted that practice in our daily lives. That’s what happened, in a scaled-back way, throughout the day in Long Beach during the conference hosted by Imprint and ourselves in early November. People in attendance were open with each other immediately, in the kind of way that typically takes being on a third date or having had a second pint. Conversations started where you’d typically get to 30 minutes in rather than at square one.
Long Beach wound up being important as a location, more so than just being the neighborhood Imprint and InterTrend are located in (InterTrend and Imprint Venture Lab are both managed by Julia Huang, the mastermind behind the conference) though it was important to us that we show support for local culture. What wound up making Long Beach appropriate was its removal from downtown LA—the people present really thought about being there and made a commitment to stay at the conference for an extended period of time. Rather than people floating in for the specific talk they were interested in and then coasting out again, there was a dedicated group of people prepared for deep engagement. People would recognize each other and conversations that were started in the morning continued on to the afternoon and then flowed into drinks at the Long Beach Museum of Art. Speakers being present for more than just their appointed slot of time also demonstrated commitment to availability and the sharing of knowledge.
Text by Charis Poon
Photos by Christina Choi
See the full recap here: https://www.maekan.com/article/celebrating-and-evaluating-a-recap-of-unexpected-connections
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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An eternal summer on a coast of smooth white sand represented in ceramics. Liam Kaczmar set out to make what he couldn’t find elsewhere when he dreamed up Summerland. His one-man operation in San Francisco has allowed him to escape the dissatisfaction he found in: having to put in 70-hour weeks for bosses, having to settle for poorly designed bongs, having to put his design and art direction skills to work making other brands look better. Summerland as Liam envisions it brings access to imagining something better for those firmly engrained in stoner culture and those who are intrigued by the idea for the first time when they come across one of his bongs on the shelf of a clothing boutique.
Hosted by Alex Maeland
Text, Narration & Transcript by Alek Rose
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Carmen Chan
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/good-earth-for-good-herb-summerland-and-the-perfect-ceramic-bong
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Guillaume Ferrand is an illustrator who approaches his work with careful research, deliberate intentions, and a willingness to experiment. He draws inspiration from literature, old movies, classical paintings, architecture, fashion collections, tiles—anything and everything he comes across can feed into his creative output. Besides being an illustrator who is able to draw on many resources, Guillaume uses his artistic series as ways to think about who he is and question his own behavior and prejudices.
Illustrations by Guillaume Ferrand
Audio by Elphick Wo
Follow this podcast with the visuals for the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/from-the-portfolio-of-guillaume-ferrand
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Recently, MAEKAN teamed with Hong Kong’s most renowned publication SCMP to produce a story on Tan Dun, a master composer and living Chinese national treasure.
Most familiar to international audiences for his work scoring Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, he amassed a great body of work that combines Western and traditional Chinese theatrical conventions before finding more mainstream success with film scores and composing for China’s milestone events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Script, Narration & Text by Nate Kan
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Christopher Lim
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/tan-dun-master-composer-and-force-of-culture
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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As the distilled spirit of choice in South Korea, soju has quickly gained popularity alongside the country’s cultural exports. No stranger to the different spirits of the world, especially those in Asia, Yardbird beverage director, and Sake Samurai Elliot Faber knows a thing or two about soju and its Japanese cousin, shochu. We sat down with him in Seoul to hear the differences and similarities between the two spirits in terms of their production, consumption, and culture.
Interview by Tara Babbins
Narration by Nate Kan
Photos by Jason Schlabach & Jung Jaiuk
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/shochu-soju-yardbirds-elliot-faber-breaks-down-the-worlds-favorite-rice-wines
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Julie Zerbo began The Fashion Law while she was still in law school, using it as a way to ground the theory that she was learning in something concrete. Julie’s website originates around the explosion in popularity of fashion blogging. Those who were not formally part of the industry could attempt to carve their own path inwards. Many of these platforms faded into obscurity just as quickly as they began. But the refreshing candor of The Fashion Law, alongside an intense level of rigor for the craft, gained her a significant following who want to see beneath the surface. The Fashion Law reader isn’t satisfied with what meets the eye.
Script & Narration by Alek Rose
Interview by Eugene Kan
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Heather Sten
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/authenticity-and-transparency-in-fashion-the-fashion-law-with-julie-zerbo
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Rarely do creatives start their careers with a particular defined path. It requires a few bumps and bruises, and wrong turns to find the right path. Decatur Dan, otherwise known as Daniel Hall, has come up through the ranks in a way that’s almost a requisite for success… your own way. His initial start creating content began as the streetwear boutique in Atlanta known as Standard. Regular meetings with Atlanta’s vibrant hip-hop scene allowed a new chapter to emerge as a music video director for the likes of 2Chains, Future, and more.
Script & Narration by Eugene Kan
Transcript by Alek Rose
Audio by Elphick Wo
Video by Daniel Hall
Photos by Alex Maeland
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/there-is-no-handbook-chapter-by-chapter-with-director-decatur-dan
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Researcher and photographer Behzod Sirjani has dedicated his career towards the understanding of culture. It has come through the lens of both social media, at Facebook and more recently with remote and digital work at Slack. The interactions we’ve engaged in online have changed significantly from our face-to-face communications of the past, and as such, we now see our peers much differently. Our access to their interests, their views, and how they interact is on full display. These cultural nuances, through Sirjani’s role as Senior Researcher at Slack, present themselves as key determinants of how digital work culture moves forward. The inclusion of photography has also given him an added tool to force him to observe and be present as things play out around him.
Interview by Eugene Kan
Transcript & Text by Alek Rose
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Behzod Sirjani
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/product-research-through-culture-behzod-sirjani-and-how-slack-humanizes-work
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Hey, everyone. My name is Umar Issa. I’m from Los Angeles, California and recently I took a trip to Egypt for a few weeks.
Egypt is a place I’ve wanted to visit for so long. It’s known in Arabic as Umm al-Dunya which means “mother of the world”. And I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to spend some time this summer exploring the land of our ancestors.
Narrated and text by Umar Issa
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Umar Issa
See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/maekan-travel-diary-conversing-through-football-in-egypt
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
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Avery Trufelman is a producer at 99% Invisible, an extremely popular podcast created by Roman Mars. She crafts stories about things overlooked and believes anything can be a good story when told correctly. “If you go far enough away and zoom out and look at larger pictures everything is fascinating; if you zoom in and in and in closer and closer and deep into histories and linguistics of anything everything is fascinating. Like everything has a context, everything has a person behind it, everything has some sort of conflict.” Listen to Avery and Charis untangle what it means to be a podcaster/producer and delve deep into the possibilities of storytelling.
Hosted, narrated, and text by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Stanley Cheng
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/anything-can-be-fascinating-avery-trufelman-of-99-invisible-on-telling-stories-well
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Chris da Canha is a skateboarder and photographer who hails from Durban, South Africa, but currently calls South Korea home.
A regular contributing photographer for MAEKAN, he has shot many of our stories in Seoul, where he is currently based. These include our stories on RYSE, Cody Hudson and most recently Kang Seunghyuk of WORKSOUT.
Photos by Chris da Canha
Audio by Elphick Wo
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/sights-sounds-chris-da-canha
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Weed. Marijuana. Bud. Pot. Reefer. Dope. Herb. Mary Jane. Chronic. Broccoli.
Every region, person, and demographic seemingly have their own preferred definition for cannabis. Mind you, the short list above only spans the English language. The universal nature of cannabis has made it a particular interesting part of popular culture fabric. The fact that so many differing perspectives exist mean that the resulting experiences we create for them also have the likehood to change and adapt whether it be a user, grower, storyteller, or in the case of Ariel Stark-Benz, the retailer.
Hosted by Alex Maeland
Transcript by Alek Rose
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Carmen Chan
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/building-a-true-cannabis-lifestyle-brand-ariel-stark-benz-of-mister-green
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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In this first story to come out of Saigon, Elphick recalls his chat with film producer Jenni Trang Le. A near 10-year veteran of the Vietnamese film industry, her work has continued to push the envelope of cinema in Vietnam overcoming obstacles that include tight budgets, fickle box offices and government censorship.
Script by Nate Kan
Transcript by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Christopher Lim
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/straight-outta-saigon-jenni-trang-le-talks-vietnams-film-industry
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Jonnie Hallman has dedicated the past four years to building an app called Cushion to help ease the minds of freelancers. A long time freelancer himself, he meets the needs of freelancers with useful, smart features and also through giving a digital tool personality and warmth.
Interview by Eugene Kan
Text, Narration & Illustrations by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/calming-the-freelance-rollercoaster-jonnie-hallmans-cushion-app
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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In this Building the Brand, Eugene and Charis sit down with Alek Rose, MAEKAN's second full-time apprentice who we had the pleasure of working with these past 28 days. Half debriefing, half feedback session, this episode examines some of the insights the soon-to-be graduate Alek has gained, as well as challenges he faced in his short few weeks in Hong Kong.
Hosted by Eugene Kan, Charis Poon & Alek Rose
Text by Nate Kan
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Christopher Lim & Nate Kan
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/building-the-brand-alek-rose
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Charis Poon interviewed Adem Niazi and Drewbyrd from 40s and Shorties during their short trip to Hong Kong. Listen as the two co-founders speak about building the brand and how it has enabled them to share their own story of being rooted deep in California's culture.
Text, Interview & Narration by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Christopher Lim
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/rooted-in-californian-nostalgia-40s-and-shorties-grows-up
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Gideon De Kock is a Hong Kong based street photographer originally from Cape Town, South Africa. He used to work as a full time musician while in South Africa, has a background in sound engineering, and still occasionally plays guitar and bass and mixes audio.
After moving to Hong Kong, Gideon cut his teeth as a photographer shooting the streets and back-alleys of the city. His approach to photography is loose, with a focus on details and salt-of-the-earth subjects. Gideon currently works at a boutique creative agency and will be releasing a solo photo book this August.
Photos by Gideon de Kock
Audio by Elphick Wo
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/sights-sounds-gideon-de-kock
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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“See you at the Packard” was what Detroit youth would say as they parted ways at the city’s coffee shops, before regrouping after sunset. Opened in 1903, the Packard Plant was a grand statement of the booming American car industry. Yet the mid-century recession meant the 3,500,000-square-foot plant was left abandoned. In 1957, the plant closed its doors to the auto business, and in its replacement laid the foundation to a musical subculture that shaped electronic music today: techno.
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/the-golden-years-detroit-technos-warehouse-scene
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Depression is Like Anything Else — Neal Brennan Mic'd Up
Comedian and Chapelle's Show co-creator Neal Brennan opens up on how culture and society need to change perceptions of depression.
Script, Narration & Audio by Kevin Chau
Photos by Christopher Lim & Eugene Kan
Illustrations by Jeremy Leung
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/depression-is-like-anything-else-neal-brennan-micd-up
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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Alex Valdman has worked dilligently and embraced the bumps and bruises of innovating in fashion and design. His early path in fashion was driven by the vanity of working with the likes of Kanye West and Nike, but in time he recognized vanity's detrimental effects on a creator's ultimate path.
Hosted by Eugene Kan
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Mia Haggi
See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/shedding-vanity-establishing-purpose-with-alex-valdman-of-rapha
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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David Kenji Chang spoke with Brendon Babenzien, creator of the apparel brand Noah, about taking a stand, not pulling punches, and balancing contradictions. Continue reading for the full story or listen to a condensed version of the interview above. Text and interview by David Kenji Chang Audio mixing by Elphick Wo Photos by Heather Sten See the whole story here.
What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.
Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.
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The brand Hinoki may be best known for the S1 Gyuto Chefs Knife, but 24-year-old founder Hamish Grace is doing a lot more than just selling blades on the internet with this project. Behind what appears to be a sleek knife brand is actually a mission to c

Eric Lau is a London based music producer focused on making music that connects people and has a positive impact on society. He looks intentionally for ways that his music and his skills can inspire and encourage others, whether it’s through mixing albums, producing original work, or teaching young people. His desire to shift society towards goodness as much as possible can be traced back to how he got started making music. Hosted by Charis Poon & Elphick Wo Music by Eric Lau Mixed by

The creative world sees itself as progressive and liberal. The beliefs that make up this mindset are easy to understand on a theoretical level, but they don’t always translate directly into practice. Each life is a collection of unique experiences: a combination of our background, our history, and our culture. Taking that complexity and simplifying it into an easy-to-follow line of progress can be difficult. Good decisions, just as much as the bad decisions, are a culmination of everything that got us to this particular point in time. The democratization of cre

Imagine moving ‘home’ for the first time in your life. Having spent almost the entirety of her life abroad, Mahira returned to Karachi, Pakistan to explore the the city of her father’s childhood and mother’s early adulthood. Brought up on the stories of Karachi’s past, of ‘the good old days’ that seemed to have withered away under the dust and debris in the forgotten parts of town, she embarked on a journey to explore the city she was told was once filled with bars, nightclubs and discotheques—the city

Joshua Kissi’s initial foray into the world of creative culture started at a unique point in time. The fashion forums were a place of digital congregation and represented an era before the emergence of social media as we know it today. The in-depth conversations Joshua engaged in about the underlying aspects of fashion would transcend the forum pages into real-world interactions that resulted in the creative agency Street Etiquette, and more recently, TONL, a modern inclusive stock photography platform that has taken a massive step forward in redefining an old-school industry. Hosted by Eugene Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Rog Walker See the whole story here

In the face of the sharing economy, the modern idea of a hotel has largely been upended and put on the defensive. When on-demand rental places offer a plethora of choices in prime neighborhoods and with potentially more competitive prices, it pushes hoteliers to reimagine what role they should play as fosterers of hospitality and community. RYSE is a modern hotel concept borne out of Jason Schlabach and Leo Moon’s vision. Together, the two have drawn from their wealth of different cultural and business experience to create globally-unique and locally-relevant experiences. Several cultural pillars are well-represented within the confines of RYSE, ranging from world-class cuisine by San Francisco’s Tartine and David Thompson’s Long Chim, and local fashion retail heavyweight WORKSOUT. Script & Narration by Eugene Kan Audio by

The philosophy behind Outlier may not be abundantly clear but several moments spent with their product or their visuals should evoke something. A moment of intrigue. A sense of movement. It takes a bit of dedication and experience with the brand but with it comes the ability to draw out a series of characteristics that exude a sense of innovation and value. The products they create, which is careful not to present itself as fashion, unite an understanding of design and technical function. Hosted by Eugene Kan Photos by Collin Hughes See the whole story here. What is MAEKAN?

It was an off chance that MAEKAN connected with fashion designer and DJ turned ceramicist Sloane Angell. It’s funny how things manage to work themselves out. At the time, MAEKAN had just moved into a new office and the lingering odor from a fresh coat of paint had various people ritualistically (or desperately?) reaching for a stick of incense every day. Generally speaking, acquiring the incense is easy and effortless. It’s readily available in most “lifestyle shops,” and can range from branded and pretentious, to downright cheap and accessible. What doesn’t really factor in until after the fact is the holder. Call it ingenuity or simply being on a #startupbudget, Eugene basically poked a hole in a plastic film canister(Eugene actual

Back in Summer 2017, Elphick took a trip to North America to visit friend and fellow producer Tee (who helped to produce our Sounds of Hong Kong and Sounds of Tokyo stories). Following his stays in Toronto and New York, he decided to drop by Philadelphia to meet with DJ Matthew Law, who Elphick had met in Hong Kong a few years prior to MAEKAN’s inception. In the catch-up that followed, Matthew shared a bit about his past and progression as a DJ and the block parties in the musically rich city that cross genres and unite generations of locals. Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by

Every day is a culmination of all our past experiences. Seemingly innocuous moments snowball with major life-altering events to shape how we look and perceive the world around us. For Matt McCormick, the tattoo turned fine artist wasn’t somebody who entered the world of art with everything figured out. The early stages of life afforded him access to the art world courtesy of his parents, but it didn’t result in a clearly defined path from adolescence to professional artist. Hosted by Kevin Chau Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Alex Maeland & Eugene Kan See the whole story here. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based

When you hear the term “pro athlete,” it’s understandable you’d think almost exclusively of the superstars on TV playing before sold-out audiences in the major leagues. But what if the athletes were getting paid to play for different teams by-the-match and in venues that swing between urban gymnasiums and rainy asphalt courts in the boonies? Welcome to the world of Wild Ball. Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by To Cheuk Yin See the whole story here. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, partici

As a native of Hong Kong, I’m confronted with the duplicity of being a creative in a market full of opportunity, but with little structure to support it. Hong Kong is vexing in that it’s a globalized financial and cultural center similar to New York and London, but unlike those cities, it still lacks on the cultural front. The underground creative industry, far removed from the fine art and luxury fashion arenas Hong Kong has long been renowned for, is young. The city’s imagination is often limited by a cultural attachment to convenience at the expense of passion. The overwhelming problem of exorbitant rent benefits the landlords only, and an archaic system makes innovation difficult. And yet, artists are fighting, and optimism remains. Each works towards unlocking the city’s full creative potential. Text & Narration by Keshia Hannam

Cody Hudson is a mutual friend that has become in many ways, the artist who’s everybody’s friend. It’s hard not to like the soft-spoken artist based in Chicago. He carries himself with this outward calm that frankly puts you at ease. His work itself feels intimately connected with himself as an individual. It’s about putting something out and not getting caught up in the details. His process is both liberating and calming despite the loose lines. Cody’s path has often been guided by curiosity. It’s been his passion to learn and take on new experiences that have served as his guiding principles towards life. Hosted by Eugene Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Chris Da Canha See the whole story

In this story, Nate chats with NY-based photographers Emanuel Hahn and Andrew Kung. While both have a large body of experience with commercial work, the two left the big city behind for a few weeks in October 2017 to personally connect with a community in the South that’s been rooted there for generations, but remains largely misunderstood—if known at all—by the rest of America. Part photojournalism project, part personal exploration of racial and regional identity, The Mississippi Delta Chinese is audiovisual narrative that captures the co

Earlier this year, we paid a visit to friend, long-time collaborator and neighbor Arthur Bray, better known as Yeti. A native Hong Konger that attended university in the UK, his career as a DJ developed through weekend trips throughout the country and its diverse club scene and alongside his partner in crime, his twin brother Tom. We sat down in his Tai Kok Tsui apartment and studio to hear about how far he’s come and the evolution of his role in music, what things look like down the line and of course, the you-couldn’t-make-this-up tale of the college roommate that inspired his name. Script by Nate Kan Narration by Kevin Chau Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Christopher Lim See the whole story here.

Joan Wong worked at Penguin Random House in New York for the past five years as a book cover designer. Among her well-known work are the paperback covers of the Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan, Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists. She could easily have stayed at her job indefinitely and followed a fairly predictable path of success as a designer. However, in evaluating her next steps, this plan sounded a little too safe. She decided to leave her full time job in order to embark on a year long trip around the world that began in October 2017. Production & Narration by Charis Poon Illustration by Joan Wong Audio by Elphick Wo See the whole story

Bohan Phoenix was born in Hubei, China and moved to the United States when he was eleven. Fast forward to his first forays into producing music full time after graduating from NYU, Bohan found himself wondering what his persona should be as an entertainer. He looked up to Eminem, Tupac, and Jin—but their paths weren’t directly applicable to his trajectory. Not until Bohan took ownership of his heritage and put that into his work was he able to find the kind of success he could get excited about. Now, the blend of cultures that makes up Bohan’s personality and music is putting him at the forefront of the Chinese hip-hop scene. Production & Narration by Elphick Wo Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Cheuk-Yin To See the whole story

In our latest MAEKAN Session, we moved the show to London and discussed the topic of “Authenticity in Media.” London has been an inspiration to the team for some time. The city has been an important driver of globally-relevant subcultures with a keen understanding of the world of media. This relationship has always been a delicate balance that they seem to understand. Moderated by Eugene Kan Panelists featuring Tom Brandhorst, Ari Stein, and Iona Goulder Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Giles Smith See the whole story here. What is MAEKAN?

Sara Aiko founded Curated Kyoto, a travel boutique based in Kyoto, Japan, in March 2017 on her birthday. She had previously worked at a media company promoting Kyoto, but knew that there was so much more to the city than what they were in the business of advertising. Sara wants to share aspects of her city that aren’t as well known as Kyoto’s famous landmarks. Landmarks like Fushimi Inari Shrine with its iconic vermillion torii gates and Ginkaku-ji, a Zen temple known as the Silver Pavilion, receive many visitors all year round, and they are beautiful symbolic sites, but Sara believes more attention should be paid to other parts of the city too. Curated Kyoto introduces a new way for travelers to enjoy Kyoto from a creative perspective. Production & narration by Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Mi

In our first Sights & Sounds of 2018, we hear from Melbourne-based Jean-Paul McAllan, better known as ThirdCulture. Born in the States but raised in Japan and Hong Kong, he has never felt inseparably linked to a specific location, but rather carries a mix of curiosity and readiness wherever his travels take him. He treats his craft as meditation, pract

There’s been a bit of excitement around MAEKAN with Alex opening his first-ever photo exhibition, “Flower,” at McNamara Art Projects. The show, as the name suggests, revolves around still life botanical photos that may or may not be of the illicit variety. “Flower” is not meant to be any sort of hard-stanced commentary on cannabis in a region of the world where it’s frowned upon. Instead, for Alex it was about bringing friends together to work together on a passion project. It drew in the likes of Mike Cherman of Chinatown Market, and Ariel Stark-Benz of

Photography can mean a lot of different things today. Is it more ephemeral and about capturing the trivial parts of life? Is it about something more artful and considered? Is it about documenting and providing memories that will certainly outlive us? You could say that most of the photography we experience is largely forgettable and disposable. Random selfies and product placements dominate much of our feeds. For photographer Brian Kelley, his initial start in professional photography focused more on the world of streetwear and skateboarding. However, it was the process of still life photography that pulled him into a unique genre that flies in the face of what’s expected in modern times. Text & Narration by Eugene Kan Audio

When you've spent most of your life writing for eyes, the transition to scripts written for podcasts and audio stories can sometimes be a bit challenging. But with the right resources and a bit of practice, you eventually find yourself developing a writing voice you didn't know you had. In this Building the Brand, Charis and Nate discuss some of the challenges of writing for the ear and about some of the best practices they've learned writing for MAEKAN's listeners since inception. Hosted by Charis Poon & Nate Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Alex Maeland What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We

The mention of Japanese culture calls to mind any number of things, ranging from Pokémon and Nintendo to kimonos and Noh theatre. Japan is full of niche cultural products that are often specific to certain prefectures and certain eras, but to an outsider located elsewhere, only the more popular exports make it through. Even with the best intentions of a person seeking to learn more, the lack of translated Japanese-English websites and media can prevent deeper understanding. Hikaru Komura, who prefers to go by Hiki, started a blog in 2009 to practice her English after she returned to Tokyo from her overseas studies. The blog quickly gained a global following and Hiki started fielding comments and questions about Japan and Japanese products. At the time, Hiki dreamed up an online store as a quick solution for her readers looking to acquire hard-to-find things from Japanes

When trap music is highlighted in the context of China and especially in English, the discussion often wanders into focusing on the showy garish side, before writing off the burgeoning scene as a shallow imitation of the popular North American genre. But in this story, Eugene sits down with David Zhou and Lucas Farrar, who set the record straight on the Chinese hip hop scene, specifically as it pertains to Chengdu and Chongqing, the two rival cities building the scene from the ground up and laying claim to the title of China’s hip-hop capital. Hosted by Eugene Kan, David Zhou & Lucas Farrar Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Lucas Farrar See the whole story here. What is MAEKAN?

The faces of Japan’s entertainment industry are changing. From models to boy bands to athletes, the country is celebrating its new diversity, especially hafus—the Japanese term for biracial people. But before this new wave of mixed Japanese celebrities, there was Crystal Kay. This half-Korean and half-African American songstress was born in Japan, and was one of the only half-black people in mainstream media when she burst onto the Japanese pop scene in 1999. In this exclusive MAEKAN interview, she tells us about being mixed in Japan, and how her multicultural background has helped make her borderless as an entertainer. Script and Narration by Iris Van Kerckove Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Kara Chung See the whole story

To produce one of our stories in October 2017, we sent our sound engineer Elphick with frequent MAEKAN collaborator and photographer Yin to China. They were there to meet with pro baller Erron Maxey and cover the growing local underground scene known as “Wild Ball.” Hosted by Elphick Wo & To Cheuk Yin Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by To Cheuk Yin See the whole story here. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a

In this fun MAEKAN story, Alex and Chris get ahold of a Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 i-Type Camera and take it out for a field test around Alex’s neighborhood in Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island. Audio by Kevin Chau Photos by Christopher Lim See the whole story

Many interests often begin solo. Collecting sneakers, shooting photos, or maybe cooking are acts that can take shape in various forms. But it’s the power of community and connection that not only draws us in but keeps us rooted and engaged. A strong community provides a balance of support and challenge, ensuring that we all collectively reap the benefits of a shared commitment. Our digital generation has been spoiled with opportunities to connect and engage online. The ability to dip in and out of a conversation is a concept worth noting. There are communities where sometimes many offer a lot of their time and effort, while other times, people are simply passively consuming. But what happens when you introduce a physical component to it all and bring these worlds offline? Narration by

Jamal Burger, or Jayscale as he’s known in the digital world, has come a long ways as a curious kid in Toronto. Like many of his generation, their first foray into photography came courtesy of a mobile device. The phone would be a cherished tool on a social media ride that would allow him to grow into a sizeable Instagram following. Youthful exuberance and a large following can create a particular sense of invincibility and narcissism. There’s not even a hint of that with Jamal. It’s often easy to apply social media’s superficial element of judgment before you meet somebody in real life. Afterall, the curated nature of someone’s life on a feed may lead you to believe that it is, in fact, their reality. Narration by Eugene Kan Audio by

With the political rhetoric and mass media firestorm shaping, if not commanding the immigration debate in the United States, it’s easy to find oneself distant and apathetic to the very issue at hand—people going from one place to another. In this Witnessed, photographer Taliesin Gilkes-Bower shares his experiences traveling along the Mexico-United States border producing his “Hard Stop: Along The Wall” photo series and accompanying Aguilas del Desierto (Eagles of the Desert), a San Diego-based non-profit that searches for lost or abandoned migrants crossing through the hostile deserts of California and Arizona hoping to cross an increasingly militarized border. Narration by Taliesin Gilkes-Bower Audio by Elphick Wo

Shah Selbe’s work puts him at the intersection of the world’s most famous exploration organization and cutting-edge technology. A conservation technologist, Selbe is a fellow with the National Geographic Society and uses drones, sensors, and smartphones on expeditions in order to change the way we protect the world’s wild species and spaces. Though his work takes him to some of the most far-flung reaches of the planet, Selbe runs a nonprofit lab in downtown Los Angeles called Conservify where he can prototype and build new technology to share through open source software for the public and scientists alike. Produced by Collin Hughes Script & Narration by Frankie Caracciolo Audio by Elphick Wo P

Bo Bridges is a Los Angeles-based action, commercial and fine-art photographer whose work spans over two decades. Bo cut his teeth in film-based action photography before transitioning to the digital world, working with household names in professional sports, Hollywood, television and more. Oh, and on top of all that, he's an amazing storyteller. Listen to Bo share some of his most memorable experiences on the set of Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, on the cover of SURFER Magazine and in treacherous waters of Cordova, Alaska. See the full Sights & Sounds here. What is MAEKAN?

Born and raised in Toronto, Jamal Burger aka Jayscale has a penchant capturing the unique energy of everyday life found in big cities. After speaking with him, you soon find his soft-spoken—perhaps you could even say shy—demeanor and his philanthropic spirit are inseparable from his distinct black and white photography where simple but fleeting moments are frozen in time. The stark contrasts of each frame bring us into each urban sprawl and right beside their inhabitants. See the full Sights & Sounds here. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting wi

NOTE: This will be the last podcast we upload on this feed. Please subscribe to the new "MAEKAN It Up" feed. On MAEKAN It Up #027, we try to take a non-tech approach to the week's topic and land on how one lady is fighting to preserve her tribe's cuisine. It somehow ended up being a food-focused episode as we explored the future of airplane food. How One Restaurant Owner Is Fighting for Her Tribe’s Cuisine Airline Food Conundrum – Paid Meals Winning Out Over Freebies Wikipedia: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall

It’s hard to quantify success when you’re starting out. Few people set out with a clear path or vision as to where they’ll end up in the future. The path becomes increasingly murky in the face of setbacks and challenges. From Seattle to Seoul, Jay Park set off to explore an opportunity in his motherland when things back home weren’t exactly rosy. Despite a shared ethnic origin, entering a new culture that’s not yours is in itself a harrowing experience. Integration and understanding your place in a foreign culture are critical towards your success and to determine your role and identity. Jay Park’s initial stint in Korea ended in controversy, where old social media comments were dug up and put in plain sight. It didn’t sit well amongst a country with immense national pride. After returning home to Seattle and working odd jobs to reorientate himself, it’s then

Edward Barnieh lives in Hong Kong working for Cartoon Network, but he’s gained notoriety on Instagram as a photographer (@edwardkb). Edward quickly amassed followers on Instagram in 2014 during the era of suggested users on the app, but he has retained a strong audience through continual dissatisfaction with his own abilities and seeking to push himself to improve. Listen to Edward talk about his favorite stories behind six of his photos and provide context for what happened before and after each shot. Edward discusses what makes these photos uniquely personal to him and reflects on what he might have done differently in these situations. See the full Sights & Sounds here. What is MAEKAN?

Edward Barnieh is a photographer currently based in Hong Kong who’s originally from the UK. He has been using Instagram since 2013 and has a verified account with 210,000 followers. He had no expectations when he first started using the app, and certainly didn’t think using it would lead to him becoming a well-known photographer. We live in an era where parents send their kids to summer camp for coaching on becoming social media hits, and where people aspire to amass enough of an online presence to merit sponsored holidays abroad. Edward wound up, by accident and not by design, into that life. Words and Narration by Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Christopher Lim See the whole story

We live in a time and place where everything can be reviewed and researched. It doesn’t leave ourselves much opportunity to simply let things happen. Half on a whim and half on the trusted recommendation of a friend, Eugene took a trip to Hida, a sleepy town located in Japan’s Gifu prefecture. There, he connected with different minds from the world of tech, publishing, photography, and advertising over several days at Focus Hida. Technology has more than encroached in our lives; it’s often manipulated and influenced our values in the name of optimization. We exchange moments of surprise and the excitement of discovery for carefully scripted moments. When we figure out the underlying mechanisms, as we inevitably do, it’s an unsatisfying experience. Narration by Eugene Kan & Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by

NOTE: We're migrating MAEKAN It Up to its own show feed. Search for the new feed "MAEKAN It Up" on your favorite podcast apps. On MAEKAN It Up #026, we take an deep look into the recent FCC movements around Net Neutrality. At its core who will this affect and in what capacity? We also acknowledge a piece of #fakenews they inadvertently highlighted. Our second topic discusses whether kids and the youth deserve a pass for some of the ignorant things they say online. Shouldn't our youth be about making mistakes and learning? Net Neutrality II: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Americans are spending Thanksgiving fighting for net neutrality

NOTE: We're migrating MAEKAN It Up to its own show feed. Search for the new feed "MAEKAN It Up" on your favorite podcast apps. On MAEKAN It Up #025, we examine why we feel so compelled to put our hands on the artifacts at the museum and the purpose of touch in learning. Another topic we explore focuses on the factors that go into critical thought and the role of analysis and motivation. Why Can’t People Stop Touching Museum Exhibits? To think critically, you have to be both analytical and motivated Could eating lik

Gabriel Joseph and his partner Samuel Swanson made a calculated bet five years ago to open their very own club in Seoul's uniquely diverse area known as Itaewon. Not content with the work they were putting in for other promoters, they approached their original venture Cakeshop with a sense of direction and purpose that, to this day has proven to be unwavering. Between the two, Sam is at the musical helm, bringing international artists alongside hand-selecting local acts. Gabe serves as his foil, bringing together a cohesive brand identity and helping shape the venues into international music destinations. An opening in the building of Cakeshop allowed them to explore a second space, known as Contra. A decidedly more upscale approach to music and nightlife, if Cakeshop is the turnt-up little brother, Contra is the more mature, chill s

On MAEKAN It Up #024, we go in-depth into what merchandise means for "non-fashion" brands such as apps, journalists, magazines and more. Is merchandise the key towards unlocking a new and potent revenue stream? We also look at the dark and twisted world of YouTube for children and what responsibilities YouTube has in the space. New York Magazine rolls out apparel with ONLY NY Narduwar's T-shirt Overcast the podcast app drops merch line Thrasher Mag's Jake Phelps and his Interview with H

It's easy for many in Hong Kong to say the city lacks an alternate cultural scene, but the reality is there is one thriving down on the ground, behind the scenes and hidden in obscurity. For most starting brands, there’s a definite desire to struggle hard at the beginning, make the right contacts and sign on to work with big global brands seeking to gain traction in the metropolis. But as with any brand that staunchly adheres to its brand ethos come hell or high water, obscurity is simultaneously its biggest selling point and limiting factor. For, OKOKOK the street label started as a two-man operation and has stayed that way. We hear from creative head Leo and business guy Ah B about how a brand like their’s has held on and gradually built their brand while staying true to their vision. Script by Nathan Kan Narration

From stadium concession stands to DIY mealworm farms, edible insects have been making headlines in the last couple of years. But bugs are not just another viral food trend—they could potentially be the answer to the world’s growing food security problems. Edible insects are, after all, a sustainable food source that is both as good for us as it is for the planet. Two companies—Exo and Tiny Farms—hope to leverage the humble cricket and make it the next great protein. But while many cultures around the world eat insects, Western countries are finding the concept a little harder to swallow. Could companies like cricket protein bar producer Exo and cricket flour supplier Tiny Farms be the next step

On MAEKAN It Up #023, look at some of the industry insights into ComplexCon 2017, a direct-to-consumer tradeshow around street culture. After a great debut in 2016, a series of incidents overshadowed an otherwise fascinating real-world insight into a culture that's been defined by what happens online. We also look into the recent news behind the shuttering of DNAinfo and Gothamist after its billionaire owner rejected a plea to unionize. What does this mean for the future of media when rich, powerful individuals can withdraw support at the drop of a hat? Bobby Hundreds' reflections on ComplexCon 2017 Jeff Carvalho's insights on what transpired at

Original stories, produced and driven entirely by MAEKAN, typically start with an editorial team on the ground capturing audio and visuals as they unfold. Our editors wear many hats on set, and when push comes to shove, they're called upon to record broadcast-quality audio and capture additional images that enrich the story. In this instalment of Tools, Cody from the editorial team walks us through three personal items he relies on out in the field: a camera bag, a notebook, and a rangefinder film camera. Narration by Cody Horne Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Chris Lim See the whole story here. What is MAEKAN?

This fall has been a trying time for the United States with natural disasters impacting several of its states and territories. Most recently, the Tubbs Fire—a wildfire that is contained but still burning in several counties in Northern California—has claimed the lives of over 40 people, destroyed thousands of structures and laid waste to tens of thousands of acres of land. Taliesin Gilkes-Bower is a photographer, DJ and visual artist who lives near the affected area and who bore witness to the aftermath of the disaster. Drawing from his experience capturing images for news and documentaries, he shares his account of what little is left and experiencing a force of nature that can easily erase the lives we know. Narration by Taliesin Gilkes-Bower Audio by Elphick Wo

On MAEKAN It Up #022, we invite our first-ever guest, Mikey Scott to chop it up over the US military's adoption of video games as a high-level training tool. We also examine the relevance and meaning of iconic graphic designer Barbara Kruger's art project with the New York Mass Transit Authority (MTA). The Video Game That Could Shape the Future of War There's a Better Way to Board Planes Hey, quick question: Why are models so bad at planking?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. As the modern world continues to race toward the future, we can find ourselves constantly groping for radical or material ways to find our identities in it. But while we might be obsessed with going forward and discovering the new, we sometimes forget to look back and to the old—to our own pasts. Cheuk-Yin To is a photographer we used to work with. One summer evening, we caught up at the office where he shared a special story with us, of how he took a side trip on a whim only to find both his roots and a few long-lost relatives. Script and Narration by Nate Kan

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. When a Chinese person dies, it's customary to offer food, paper money and goods for use in the underworld. These goods are made of paper and can take the form of anything the living or the dead so desires, whether it be clothes, a house or even gold. But as times change and values follow, it's not uncommon to see iPhones, LV bags or even whole convenience stores burned in offering. Seeing this made several members of the team who are of Chinese descent wonder: "Is our culture so materialistic that our love for things consumes both our lives and afterlives?" As Cody and Nate find out, it's not just about the things we se

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. If you listen to our MAEKAN It Up podcast series, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed some sketches to accompany the story and no, we’re not talking about Eugene’s stick figures. Charis Poon is MAEKAN’s Community Manager, but she’s also a freelance designer and illustrator. In this Tools, she shares three of her go-to drawing implements that have seen her through many projects over the past decade. Narration by Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Chirs Lim What is MAEKAN?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. If you’re a creative that’s still in school or just on the way out, you might wonder what your next steps are. For Willie, our first apprentice, his interest in journalism and media led him through our doors over summer break. In this Building the Brand, he speaks with Eugene about not only his two months with MAEKAN, but also how creatives from different generations see things. Hosted by Eugene Kan & Willie Siau Audio by Elphick Wo Illustration by Willie Siau

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. We've all heard of speakeasies, low-key or even hidden bars that favor intimate atmospheres and quiet drinks. But most of them have an almost exclusive connection with Western spirits. After all, the ban on them is what spawned the first speakeasies in the prohibition era. But what about one dedicated to the sole enjoyment of sake? To find out, Eugene and Nate sit down with food and beverage veterans Elliot Faber and Lindsay Jang of Yardbird, who share their account of an unforgettable visit to Sake Bar O, the first known sake speakeasy in Tokyo. Interview by Eugene Kan &

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. In this inaugural Community Spotlight, a recurring series that focuses on members from MAEKAN's Slack community by highlighting their experiences, we catch up with Paris-based MAEKAN Member Yannick Louis-Fernand who recently travelled halfway across the world—over 4,600 miles (approximately 7,500 kilometers)—for a two-week vacation in Cuba. Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Yannick Louis-Fernand What is MAEKAN?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. As the latest collaborative effort between MAEKAN Sound Engineer Elphick Wo and Producer Tee, Sounds of Tokyo transports you to the vibrant metropolis by reinventing its addictive energy and character through a soundtrack composed solely of audio captured in the field. Sit back, plug in headphones and experience this MAEKAN Originals short. Recorded by Elphick G. Wo (Delf) Composed by Elphick G. Wo (Delf) & Terence Lam (TEE) Mixed by Elphick G. Wo (Delf) & Terence Lam (TEE) Mastered by

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. The workflow for a creative has changed drastically over the past few decades. The digital age ushered in a reformation of how we communicate. But alongside that came distraction in our lives due to the open and frictionless lines of communication. The rapid fire pings can force us into a state of cognitive disorientation that pushes us to jump between chat and browser windows. They're all a cry for attention with varying degrees of (un)importance. Narration by Charis Poon & Eugene Kan Audio by

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Since our talk last year on his Trillicon Valley initiative, Jason Mayden is writing the next chapter of his narrative centered on building the next generation of resilient and capable youth. His new brand Super Heroic makes kids sneakers for now, but it’s not a sneaker company. Instead, it’s a brand focused on the concept of "play" and its essential role in helping shape the lives of kids. On his 112th trip through China for factory visits, we came along for the ride as we caught up with Jason as he talked about the next generation of sneaker wearers. Narration by

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. It was gone within a split second. All of Alex's photo gear in a hard rolling case disappeared into the streets of Seoul, most likely to never be seen (it hasn't turned up since). You're often planning relentlessly to get the bigger details right. But sometimes all it takes is for an innocuous and unexpected oversight to derail everything. After losing the gear, Eugene and Alex still had to do their interview with Korean popstar and newly-signed Roc Nation rapper, Jay Park. While that went well, there was still the lingering afterthought of how to not only account for the gear bu

On MAEKAN It Up #021 Charis co-hosts with special guest Nathan Kan. Nathan is an editor at MAEKAN and together with Charis they make it an episode all about dystopia. Charis talks about the Social Credit System in China that will soon assign ratings to all Chinese citizens. Nathan brings up the increased use of AI and hypothesizes about when robots might takeover creative jobs. Big data meets Big Brother as China moves to rate its citizens Black Mirror Season 3 Episode 1 "Nosedive"

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. When you think of dumplings full of ground pork and cabbage, you might picture them being served at a shop in Hong Kong or maybe somewhere on the West Coast. But Denmark? After years weathering the storm that is the creative agency world, friends and now business partners Tim and Tem took their extensive experience and brought their favorite after-hours dish and created GAO, the first ever dumpling bar in Copenhagen. In the process, they’ve shown how you can bring a comparatively unknown piece of culture to another place—while keeping it authentic. Narration by Eugene Kan &

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. When creatives look at commerce, there’s typically a justified sense of tension between the artistic and the business side. But how does someone from the commercial world see the creative relationship? We sat down for an hour with John C Jay, President of Global Creative at Fast Retailing, UNIQLO’s parent company. As a unique bridge between commerce, culture, and creativity, he enlightened us on the mutually beneficial connection between the three as well as shared some words about his own creative initiative launching in Portland. Narration by Eugene Kan & Nate Ka

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. At the age of 25, Mike Cherman has been through more business highs and lows than most entrepreneurs twice his age. After exiting his own label, ICNY, two years ago following an ugly falling out with his former investor, Mike packed his bags and moved to LA. A native New Yorker, Los Angeles provided the clarity he would need to plot his next moves. He took time off, bought a Volkswagen and figured out that in fact he actually didn't give as many fucks about fashion as he thought. Narration by Alex Maeland Audio by Elphick

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Growing up in New York, Lauren Gallo has always been hungry for opportunities, both to earn and more importantly, to learn. From wearing several hats at British members club Soho House to her role at Nike handling global social media, Lauren has never waited for chances to present themselves. In this story, Eugene and Charis talk about what makes her tick and the mindset that helps her to seamlessly transition through 8 cities in 10 years, and make an impact at every opportunity. Script & Narration by Eugene Kan & Charis Poon Audio

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. A lot of people are surprised when we tell them we’re based in Hong Kong. For a publication and brand looking to influence creative culture, it seems strange we didn’t rush to another city to make our mark. But there are a lot of practical, personal and creative reasons that make this such a great city to start in—and stay in. In this edition of Building the Brand, Charis, Cody, Elphick and Nate share their thoughts on why we’re here. Narration by Cody Horne, Elphick Wo, Nate Kan & Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo Photos

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. LOT2046 is a subscription-based service which distributes a basic set of clothing, footwear, essential self-care products, accessories, and media content. The clothes are dispensable: as they wear out, they can be bundled and returned, eliminating clutter. The set of items seen s from "lot #002." Narration by Eugene Kan & Nathan Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Alex Maeland What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Often before a MAEKAN story becomes the sounds you hear and the pictures you see, it starts out as a script—and that means a lot of words. While writing or typing every day is a great habit to develop creativity, it’s also a good way to get achy fingers and eyes too if you’re not careful. In this latest MAEKAN Tools, Nate shares three uncommon tools that help make his day-to-day writing work smoother and more manageable. Narration by Nate Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Chris Lim What is MAEKAN?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. During our trip to Tokyo in February, the team visited Jazzy Sport, a prominent Japanese record store in Meguro. After striking a conversation with the storeowner, MAEKAN was invited to an exclusive music event hosted together with Blue Note, featuring José James, a jazz and hip-hop inspired vocalist. Listen in on our recount of digging through vinyl at Jazzy Sport and the night of soulful funky beats that followed. Narration by Cody Horne, Chris Lim & Elphick Wo Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by

On MAEKAN It Up #020 (we made it to episode 20 somehow), Eugene and Charis discuss the case for adding sneaker culture to the school curriculum based on its importance within youth and popular culture. Eugene manages to show how out of the loop he is when it comes to memes. Also, we explore how media companies currently strategize their push notifications and what are things we should be aware of. Why Sneaker Culture Should Be Taught in Schools Bella Hadid Goes Sneaker Shopping With Complex Hey, quick question: Why are models so bad at planking?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. As the essential component to producing our stories, the process of recording has come a long way since we first started working on audio stories. Bringing scripts to life using only our voices has been both a challenging and rewarding experience for the entire editorial team. In this edition of Building The Brand, Cody, Elphick and Nate talk about how they went from not having any experience with podcast recording to where they are today. Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Eugene Kan & Chris Lim Wh

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Sarah Kim is a woman of many talents. By day she works at an ad agency in New York. By night and the weekend, she’s a publisher with By Way Of Brooklyn. Not content with her outlets, she sought out another medium, art curation. Together with her partners Arielle and Lynsday, the trio represents Feminine Product. The show celebrating women was a physical manifestation of many talks and discussions culminating in what is feminity and what was Feminine Product’s approach to it. Over the course of an afternoon spent before the show had opened, we engaged openly and without judgment over some of th

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. When the information age nostalgically looked back toward traditional craftsmanship for inspiration, we ended up with hand-stitched leather cases for our tablets and artisan wooden styluses to go with it. But for something we use literally every day, why haven’t we been handcrafting sneakers? This is just what bespoke luxury sneaker label No.One does, a dozen and a half pairs at a time. Good things take time, and founder Mark Gainor doesn’t seem to mind. Script and Narration by Nate Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Eugene

On MAEKAN It Up #019, Eugene and Charis discuss the future of "corporate" geo-tagging based on a recent project between Snapchat, and Jeff Koons' balloon dog sculpture. It incorporates insights from Sebastian Errazuriz, a Chilean artist and a designer based in New York City who's been outspoken on the role of brands in our digital public spaces. We also discuss the big picture behind Dropbox's colorful rebranding and the suggestion that Dropbox is losing its focus on product. Jeff Koons’ augmented reality Snapchat artwork gets ‘vandalized’ Watch: Sebastian Errazuriz on corporate geo-tagging

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. At MAEKAN, we're always open to different mediums if they help enhance a story, and while we do shoot a lot in digital, we've definitely all got a special place in our hearts for film. The texture and colors produced by film have been instrumental in capturing both the rich emotions of our stories and the candid memories on our trips. In this MAEKAN Tools, Chris Lim shares the two analog film cameras he shoots with to produce images for many of our stories: his compact and discreet Yashica T4 and his medium format Pentax 645. What is MAEKAN?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. A lot of people like trying new things, especially if it involves something delicious. But how much of the experience is coming from your five senses and how much is created or even distorted by your own mind? In this edition of Hands, MAEKAN’s editor, Nate, recalls the team’s visit to Michelin one-star Sushi Shin in Minato, Tokyo. There, everyone didn’t just end up with stomachs full of great food, but heads full of great insights too. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community f

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. The sounds get progressively clearer. Wheels rattling along smooth granite are met with the intermittent screech of trucks grinding against a ledge. You can hear it getting louder and louder, but there's still nothing to connect the sound and the source. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just d

On MAEKAN It Up #018, Eugene and Charis discuss an Apple Music interview that featured Jimmy Iovine, Zane Lowe, and Larry Jackson. Some interesting insights led them to dig deeper into how the future of streaming music will play out and Apple's positioning. Furthermore, we highlight a really great project that featured Daily Paper, a streetwear brand out of Amsterdam, and PUMA. The project focused on the creation of a football pitch in Ghana at an all-girls school as part of the 20th anniversary of sponsorship between PUMA and various African nations. Apple Music's Long Game: Why Jimmy Iovine Thinks They're 'Not Even Close' to Success With Streaming

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. MAEKAN’s approach to documenting stories has been highly methodical, structured and organized. We achieved great editorial results over the past few months by sticking with this formula. However, as our body of work continues to grow, the importance of making judgment calls and quick adjustments becomes all the more important. That's not to say having a gameplan doesn't work. It's about being able to identify opportunities that unfold and having enough flexibility to react in order to maintain the authenticity of a story. What is MAEKAN?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. The American cannabis industry is poised to reach over $20 billion USD by 2021. But with each industry comes its own sectors, whether it be finance, marketing, infrastructure and equipment. How far along is each of these parts of the puzzle? How do you market a product that's not illegal per se, but also not recreationally legal (yet)? We spent a day alongside Sherbinskis, a California-based flower company as they planned a low-key marketing affair with rapper Young Dolph. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. With the legalization of recreational cannabis becoming more and more of a reality in California, the ensuing Green Rush promises a new economy and a new chance to profit. The opportunity extends to Native American reservations, whose distinct legal status means expediency for entrepreneurial tribes that want to grow cannabis for profit. But from sowing to selling, things are more complicated than they seem. Over a dinner in Vegas, Hopland Pomo Indian Tribal Chairman Joe San Diego and Will Htun of renowned cannabis grower Sherbinski share their story of the potential and t

On MAEKAN It Up #017, Eugene and Charis discuss the what it means for Coca-Cola to sponsor a video game character and how social media and technology has changed and normalized food reviews. Coca-Cola nets its first ever virtual athlete in Fifa 18’s rising star Alex Hunter What Coca-Cola's sponsorship of Fifa 18 virtual footballer Alex Hunter means for the future of influen

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. In the competitive world of fine dining, commissioning the creation of custom objects for food presentation has become practically de rigueur. We talk to two of the industry’s most sought-after serviceware designers — Jono Pandolfi and Martin Kastner — and discover that the careers, work, and creative processes built around their art can be as complex and varied as the food that is served on it. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of cr

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. At the end of our visit to Tokyo-based floral art collective AMKK, head botanist Makoto Azuma graciously created three pieces exclusively for MAEKAN. Incorporating MAEKAN's signature blue and "unexpected connections" as his theme, Makoto created a piece titled "Damned Ikebana," a unique take on the traditional Japanese flower arrangement art. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, p

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. While LEGO has been a creative building block—pun very much intended —in every childhood, there are plenty of "kids at heart" who just can't let go of them, even after their imaginations have grown beyond what's featured on the colorful box. In this MAEKAN BEAT, we look at how one Hong Kong-based store and studio makes custom LEGO pieces that are definitely not for ages 4-7! What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about l

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. You might be curious about why you’re listening to this story as opposed to just reading it off your screen. In the early stages of MAEKAN, a lot of consideration went into building the experience. We thought about simply sticking with text and photos and maybe experimenting with video, but in the end, we found our reasons for why audio was the best approach. The current way in which we live our lives is constantly changing. It’s never quite stagnant, with continual movement and direction, and more importantly, it’s dictated by outside forces we currently can’t control. The advancements in storytelling are evolving at a rapid pace, and media ty

On MAEKAN It Up #015, Eugene and Charis examine the cultural currency of objects, starting with a New Yorker magazine tote bag, and how Detroit's hiring of a Chief Storyteller makes us wonder about the idea of who can tell what stories amongst different demographics. How a free canvas tote became a bigger status symbol than a $10,000 Hermès bag (5:45) A Birkin Might Be a Better Investment Than the Stock Market (6:00)

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. The beauty of photography lies in the ability to capture a singular moment in time. Some events occur at an everyday pace, which makes their documentation, all the more simple. But in Bo Bridges’ world of action photography, there were no “re-dos.” To be present meant to be at the top of your game and prepared for both expected and unexpected outcomes. Unlike team sports with a general semblance of what’s possible, action sports lends itself to spontaneity and surprise. Athletes don’t accommodate your photographic needs, but rather you’re expected to rise to their occasion. For Bo, his days began in the world of film

On MAEKAN It Up #014, Eugene and Charis debut a new "collaborative" drawing and start the podcast off with some good news. Then they delve into what it means to decentralize social media with blockchain and cryptocurrencies. They cap things off by discussing the idea of "hard work" and what is the line drawn with working too hard. Decentralized social media is peer-to-peering into the future (5:45) steemit What is Blockchain and why are we exploring it at This Place?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Makoto Azuma and Shunsuke Shiinoki might've given up on dreams of becoming rock musicians, but they didn't hang up their guitars. The pair, renowned for their vivid yet stark take on floral art, make up the bedrock of creative studio AMKK, but are more than just business partners. Over the course of two days, the MAEKAN team followed the two high school friends as they practiced with their yet-to-be-named grunge rock band and went about their work day, creating original floral works and sharing more about their creative philosophy. We came away with both a deeper understanding of how AMKK works, and a drastically altered perspective of flowe

Illustration by Charis Poon On MAEKAN It Up #013, Eugene and Charis discuss the bold move by Black Girls Code to say no to a $125K USD donation from Uber, and how creatives should look at their relationship with money thanks to a 2Bobs podcast (shout out to Myke for putting us onto it). Eugene talks about the anxiety doing MAEKAN It Up (1:51) Black Girls Code says it turned down $125,000 from Uber (3:43) Black Girls Code Reflecting On One Very, Very Strange Year At Uber by Susan J. Fowler (4:45) Would you take money from somebo

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Why are sports media outlets obsessed with statistics and numbers? How hard is it to tell a good sports-related story? What value does print offer to today's publishers? We brought FRANCHISE and Mundial together to tackle these sorts of questions head on in a 90-minute roundtable conversation. These respected print titles shed light on pertinent topics such as social media's influence on sports journalism, how commer

Illustration by Charis Poon On MAEKAN It Up #012, Eugene and Charis discuss the idea of creativity as we age and why a child-like approach to problem solving embraces psychedelic drugs and what does it mean for a PR agency like Derris to simultaneously invest and provide services for? Typhoon Hato talk in Hong Kong(1:00) Changes in cognitive flexibility and hypothesis search across human life history from childhood to adolescence to adulthood (2:45) What Happens to Creativity as we Age? (3:00) Exploitation vs. Exploration thinking (4:53)

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Kits change, managers change, players are sold, shadowy billionaire owners come in, stadiums close, communities are destroyed… Shops that have relied on fan footfall close overnight as football (soccer) clubs vacate spots they've occupied for over a century. But this is the sport we chose, the sport we love. And a calf tattoo of a Chelsea bulldog in a Lampard shirt? Well, that lasts forever. What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community fo

On MAEKAN It Up #011, Eugene and Charis look into the different sides of streetwear released by churches, and what does it mean when a tech-based mindset that focuses on innovation over regulation enters food with the Impossible Burger? Recap of Alex and Eugene's presentations at the Taku & Dropbox 823 event in Tokyo (0:45) The results of the speed listening experiment (2:07) Slowing down audio during emotional moments (3:33) This American Life Episode (clip heard) When's the best time to speed listen? (4:40) Is church merch the next big thing in streetwear? (7:07)

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. With MAEKAN’s ongoing effort to bring a sense of tangibility to the digital experience, the team commissioned the talents of the multi-talented Jordan Sowers to create an original brand pattern referred to as the “fabric.” But of course, it’s never just plugging in a set of requirements and ideas and then receiving the finished product. With every artist we work with, we always jump at the opportunity to connect with like-minded people who can define MAEKAN in unexpected ways. See the full story here. (Members Only) What is MAEKAN?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. As an audio-focused publication, MAEKAN wouldn’t be what it is without an amazing sound engineer, and like any professional photographer or videographer in the field, ours relies on quality equipment suited for the job. But like gear for taking pictures or video, there is no one best option. Depending on the style or needs of the artist, it could take a handful—or packful—of equipment pieces to capture the visual world around us in each way, but try taking all of that out into the streets with you. In this latest edition of TOOLS, we look at MAEKAN resident audio maestro Elphick Wo’s powerful, but compact and discreet rig that he takes with him t

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. In a generation where people leave their hometowns in search of culturally or creatively greener pastures and the allure of the exotic elsewhere, Virgilio Martinez represents a very notable exception. With a skateboarding career cut short by injury, the now restauranteur from Lima, Peru went on a long and contemplative journey across the world to learn, cook and discover. Along the way, he not only found a veritable library of new ingredients and dishes, but also had an epiphany that would take him home a changed man, and a changed chef. What is MAEKAN?